As part of their concerted effort to build better relationships with remote tribal communities in the Nilgiris, the district police on Monday raised funds for repairs to the house of a tribal man in Devarshola near Gudalur.
Police said that V. Bellie (40), a resident of Kothadipudur tribal village in Devarshola, was a daily wage worker who was taking care of five of his children after his wife’s death a few years ago. The man, who belongs to the Paniya tribal community, one of the poorest tribal communities in the Nilgiris, had been living in a damaged house without a roof after an elephant tried to raid the house for food and supplies a few months ago.
A team of police personnel, including head constable B. Babu and Sub-Inspector of Police, Devarshola, K Manidurai, who were on routine patrols to the village recently, were informed of the incident, and of Bellie’s plight. At his request, police assured him that they would help in any way they can and purchase the materials required to repair his house.
“We surveyed the damage and realised that the roof was the part of the house that was most damaged. So we purchased asbestos sheets worth ₹ 3,000, and handed it over to Bellie,” said Mr. Manidurai.
Police visited the village on Monday, and helped Mr. Bellie install the roof of his home. “He had been having trouble as the roof was leaking and his children couldn’t sleep, especially during the rain. So he was extremely thankful to our help,” added Mr. Babu.
Police officials said that the District Superintendent of Police, Murali Rambha, had issued instructions to all staff at police stations in the outskirts of the district to reach out to tribal communities and build better relationships with them. Apart from assisting in small infrastructure projects in remote villages, police personnel also routinely celebrate festivals with tribal communities in the Nilgiris.
